§ 21. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary for War whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the Bolshevik allegations that the Russian Officers Volunteer Corps, which is assisted by the Allies, flogged fifty-two workmen to death in the Briansk mines, and that other workmen are threatened with execution if they refuse to work?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir. So far as my information goes, the Volunteer Army has never been anywhere near the place referred to, and if the alleged incident occurred it was presumably the work of the Bolsheviks.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman cause inquiry to be made into this allegation before British money and British arms are used to support General Denikin in his barbarities? [HON. MEMBER: "Withdraw!"]
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI hope my hon. Friend will not expect me to associate myself or the Government in that remark. There is not a vestige of foundation, as far as the Government is aware, for anything which corresponds to the incident referred to. On the other hand, the atrocities committed by the Bolsheviks form a dossier of enormous extent with regard to which we have very precise information.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill inquiry be made of the British officer commanding in this district of the Ukraine as to the conduct of the Volunteer Army operating in these districts under General Denikin against the Bolshevists?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMy hon. Friend put that precise question on the Paper. The Intelligence Department of the War Office cannot find out what district answers to the name of the Briansk mines. There is no district corresponding to it anywhere near where the Volunteer Army of General Denikin has been, and the nearest place answering to that name is 300 miles from the nearest point reached by the Volunteer Army.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs not this place in the Ukraine, over the whole of which the Volunteer Army is now spread?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNot at all. That is not so. I hesitate to embark on geographical generalisations, but if my hon. Friend will come and look at the map afterwards I will show him how far it is off.